equine journal (november 2014)

MACH SPEED: ARE EVENTERS GOING TOO FAST?

EquineJournalNovember 2014

Your All-Breed, All-Discipline Resource

FLYING CHANGES WITH

SHARON MCCUSKER

HEALING WITH HORSES

PAGE 68

HOW TO SAVE SPACE

IN A SMALL ARENA

HEALTHY START

BEATING THE

FRESHMAN 15

On Course

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November 2014 | EQUINEJOURNAL.COM 3


4 EQUINE JOURNAL | November 2014


contentsNovember 2014

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features40 A Tight Spot Space-saving configurations

for the hunter/jumper rider.BY PAMELA MANSFIELD

60 Fighting theFreshman 15Two fitness experts andan equestrian drill team coach discuss collegiate fitness and nutrition. BY KANDACE YORK

68 The Right Stuff What it takes to be a

fabulous therapy horse.BY NATALIE DEFEE MENDIK

On the Fast TrackAre upper-leveleventers being asked to gotoo fast?BY CHRISTINA KEIM

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140 Real Estate146 Marketplace147 Stallion Paddocks147 Directories155 Classifieds156 Affiliate Directory160 Last Laugh

contents November 2014

106 Jennifer Anttonen won the AdultAmateur Training Level Championship aboardFalbo at the USDF Region 8 Championships.110 The Hermitage Classic drew nearly 50 competitors from across the United States.

14 Editors Note 16 On the Road 18 Letters to the Editor 20 In Your Words 23 Points of Interest 26 Now You Know 28 Ten Things 30 Prepurchase Exam 32 Dressage Pointers 34 Driving Pointers 37 Ask the Vet

77 Travel 81 Fashion 82 Fitness 83 Collecting Thoughts

85 Industry Wide News89 Industry Wide Affiliates 95 Hunter/Jumper 101 Eventing105 Dressage109 Driving113 Western117 Distance Riding/Trail119 Morgan123 Arabian128 Quarter Horse130 Baroque132 Breed Affiliates

departments

lifestyle

the scoop

tail end

on the coverJessica Springsteen and Vindicat W took top honors in the $200,000 American Gold Cup CSI4*-W.COVER PHOTO BY TONY DECOSTA

page 60

page 32

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page 68

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Easy Does It Our News Editor, Jane Carltontries to stay zen in the show ring.

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PRESIDENT Donna KesslerGROUP PUBLISHER Patty Tiberg

DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION Scott FergusonDIRECTOR OF MANUFACTURING Donald HortonGROUP CREATIVE DIRECTOR William Greenlaw

DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL OPERATIONS Jason DoyleSENIOR DIGITAL STRATEGIST Cory Wiese

Morris Communications Company, LLCCHAIRMAN & CEO William S. Morris III

PRESIDENT Will S. Morris IV

A Publication of MCC Magazines, LLCA Division of Morris Communications Company, LLC735 Broad St., Augusta, GA 30901

Equine Journal83 Leicester Street, North Oxford, MA 01537

phone: 508-987-5886, fax: 508-987-5887 subscription questions: 1-800-414-9101

affiliate subscription questions: 1-800-742-9171international callers: 1-386-246-0102

[email protected]

Equine Journal (ISSN # 10675884) is published monthly, with four additional special editions in January, March, July, and October by MCClMagazines, LLC, 735 Broad Street, Augusta, GA 30901. Subscription rate is $19.95 per year. Editorial and Advertising offices are located at 83Leicester St., No. Oxford, MA 01537. Periodicals Postage Paid at Augusta, GA and additional offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes toEquine Journal, PO Box 433237, Palm Coast, FL 32143-9616. Submission of freelance articles, photographs and artwork are welcome. Pleasewrite for editorial guidelines if submitting for the first time and enclose SASE. No faxed materials accepted. Articles that appear in EquineJournal do not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of l Equine Journal or MCC Magazines, LLC. l Equine Journal does not endorse and is notlresponsible for the contents of any advertisement in this publication. No material from Equine Journal may be copied, faxed, electronicallyltransmitted or otherwise used without express written permission.

2014 by MCC Magazines, LLC. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A. | VOLUME 27, NO. 6

EXECUTIVE EDITOR/GENERAL MANAGERElisabeth Prouty-Gilbride

OPERATIONS MANAGERKelly Lee Brady

MANAGING EDITORKelly Ballou

ART DIRECTORDaniel Goodwin

GRAPHIC DESIGNERSCandice Madrid, Raquel Gardner

SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGISTJoan McDevitt, 508-987-5886, ext. 228

SENIOR ADVERTISING/MARKETING CONSULTANTKaren Desroches, 603-525-3601

ADVERTISING/MARKETING CONSULTANTSLaurel Foster, 508-987-5886, ext. 222

NEWS EDITOR

Jane CarltonSOCIAL EDITOR

Jennifer Roberts

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTIONKristine Miller

PRODUCTION MANAGERSCher Wheeler, Sherry R. Brown

I i



THE COLLEGE YEARS ARE A tricky time. You move away fromhome and navigate the watersof making your own decisions.There is no one to nag youabout studying, going to bed at a reasonable hour, or eating your vegetables. So of course youdo none of these and pay theconsequences. As an equestrian,its usually easy to get exercise,whether it is through riding or barn chores, but it is much harder at college as new priorities takeover your time. This is one of thereasons the Freshman 15 is socommon for first year students.To help, Kandace York gathersadvice to make it easier to stay fit while at college. Its more than worrying about your weight, itsabout being healthy. Find somegreat tips on page 60.

Also this month, Christina Keim delves into the heated question in theeventing worldare upper-level eventers being asked to go too fast? As coursesbecome more technically advanced, some experts are wondering if the requiredspeeds are still appropriate. Find out why this is such a heated issue and whattop trainers and riders have to say on page 54.

We also have a handy feature on course design for the small arena this monthwith Susan D. Tinder, author of Jump Course Design Manual. She provides some great ideas for making the most out of your small space in our article, A Tight Spot on page 40.

We hope that you will enjoy this months issue and learn something that willmake your horse life better!

EDITORS NOTE

A Better Way

Be a Part of the Equine Journal

This month in our In Your Words column, we asked about who inspires you. See theanswers on page 20. We would love to feature your answer next month. Visit us on Facebook,or send your answers to [email protected].

If you have a great photo of your horse you would like to see as our Photo of the Month, email itto [email protected].

Do you have a horse health or training question? Send your questions to [email protected],and we will have a leading veterinarian or trainer provide the answers you are looking for.

Managing Editor



AS EQUINE JOURNALS EXECUTIVESEditor, and a self proclaimed horse showfanatic (nowadays more as a spectator than a competitor), Ive been watching top riders onthe A rated competition scene for quite some time now. As a young rider, I would watch the equestrian greats before me and hope to be intheir shoes some day.

Margie Goldstein and McLain Ward were to me what Bruce Springsteen is to many music fanatics. The irony of this statementcame to fruition for me while attending theAmerican Gold Cup on September 14, whenJessica Springsteen claimed victory in the$200,000 American Gold Cup CSI4* in NorthSalem, NY.

Although her father literally is a rock star,this young lady is one to watch on the equestrianscene. In fact, after being involved in the equinemedia for close to 10 years now, I have watchedJessica grow up before my eyes. The first time I took notice of her was whenshe won the ASPCA Maclay Final in 2008 during the National Horse Show at theSyracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament.

At merely 16 years old, she impressed everyone in attendance at the Maclay Final with her talent when she was called back to the final round of competitionand cleared the first obstacle in her wake before landing on the counter-canter, and holding the lead instead of performing a simple change. This was a fiercemove made by Springsteen, which ultimately led to her victory, making her a household name among many within the show circuit overnight.

In the same weekend that Springsteen, now 22, took top honors in the AmericanGold Cup, another rider who has increasingly been making headlines over thepast two years triumphed at Old Salem Farm. Eighteen-year-old rider MichaelHughes was named the winner of the Region 2 ASPCA/NHSAA Maclay RegionalChampionships. Even more phenomenal, this is the young riders second consecu-tive year to do so. He didnt make the top ten at the Maclay Finals last year, but theres a good chance that the talented equestrian will get there this yearandpossibly even capture the victory.

Its clear that things tend to come full circle for a number of equestrians at theAmerican Gold Cup. And if you havent been lucky enough to see it happen, be sure to take note of these two riders as Ones to Watch for years to come.

ON THE ROAD

The Ones to Watch

Me with Jessica Springsteen i h i iat the American Gold Cup.

Executive EditorExecutive Editor

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Who will be the victor at this years ASPCA Maclay Finals? Find out on November 4, when theNational Horse Show returns to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.



I would love to see your events calendar back in the magazine. There seems to be nowhere to find upcoming equine events anywhere anymore.

-Carien Schippers, Walton, NY

I enjoy your magazine, and read withinterest your article on retiring horses and the letters that were sent in. I am a little surprised you only included happy, best case scenario situations and letters.Unfortunately, not all of us are that lucky to be able to have such options.

My situation is that I acquired twohorses in my early 20s, that despite many hardships in my life, I made sacrifices so that I was able to keep them, love them, and give the best care I could. They are now in their 20s and I only am able to afford to keep them because a friend leases them and uses them for lessonsand trail rides, etc. They are both starting to have some age-related issues comeup and I know when they are no longer useful for riding, I will not be able toafford to keep them without being able tolease them out. I will not be able to afford board at a retirement barn. I do not have my own place to give them what they need. Though my friend has helped me beable to keep them all these years, it is not her responsibility to retire them withoutbeing able to have income from them.

This is my sad situation and I am sure I am not the only one in this position.What options are out there for me andmy horses? I have not been able to find what they will need at a price I can afford. It is very scary.

-Kimberly Justice,Via Email

I recently was made aware that SuzanneLeblancs horse Lucky, and her trainer,Jane, were featured in your magazinefrom their win at Devon last year. Suzannes previous show horse, Aly Cat, has been retired with us here atour farm for almost three years now. I also noticed you had an article about retirement options in that issue aswell and found it interesting to read others perspectives on our industry. My husband and I have a retirement farm in Kentucky and we have quite a few retirees from the Northeast at our farm.

The reason for my email is just toshare an interesting story about one of our retirees in particular. His name isHarley Tang. He has been with us over

two years and he came to us from Hong Kong. His owner, and a friend of hers, shipped two horses 8,000 miles just to retire here. The story is very inspiring, thelove Harleys owner has for him and the sacrifice and commitment she has madeto retire him here in the U.S. is more thanadmirable. She did fly over and visit thefarm before sending him here to see if we would be a good fit for her specialretiree. I believe she told us the U.S. was the fourth or fifth country she had visitedtrying to find just the right place to retireHarley. There are so many amazing facts about this story, including one she told us during her visit. Even if she choseour farm to send her horse to, the Hong Kong Jockey Club could deny her the option as they control all the imports andexports out of the country. However, she still spent significant time and resourcesto visit here anyway, even if it was only a chance he could retire here. She toldus that there had not been a horse sentto the U.S. from Hong Kong for retire-ment purposes in 50 years! It was a longshot for him to come here, but she was willing to make the investment and do the research to find just the right place for Harley. Another heart-warming fact is thatthese two women did not even own thesetwo horses. They were able to take over ownership from the Hong Kong Jockey Club to save these two horses from being euthanized. There is such a very limitedspace for horses in Hong Kong that if one equine becomes unserviceable, it must leave the country or be put down.

Everyone who ever hears the story of how these two horses came to retire here is always fascinated by it and havetheir hearts warmed by the unselfish commitment and remarkable devotion by Harleys owner and her friend. They areboth true horse lovers! Harleys owner comes for a week every year to visit himand she will be visiting soon. We are so looking forward to seeing her. We havedeveloped a great relationship via digital media over the past couple of years!Thanks to Whatsapp we can take a video of Harley and send it to Hong Kongand she can see what her horse was doingjust five minutes prior! Technology sure makes it easy for us to bring the horses tothe owners. We even FaceTime with anowner and a horse here in the states.

-Kim Weber, Webers Retired Horses, LLC,

Via Email

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

I love your magazine and normally read it cover to cover.However, I thought your articleon teaching your Gypsy horsemanners was particularly inspiring. I will be usingmany of the exercises with myQuarter Horse this fall.

-Chelsea Neal, Hartford, CT

North Woods Animal Treatsfor Your Thoughts!We love hearing from you! Send us yourletter to the editor for a chance to win nextmonths prize of a pack of North WoodsAnimal Treats. All letters we receive by November 15 will be entered in the drawing.Send your submissions to [email protected], or to Equine Journal, Editorial, 83lLeicester Street, N. Oxford, MA 01537.Congratulations to Chelsea Neal for winning Novembers letter-of-the-month! She willreceive some North Woods Animal Treats.

[ FEATURED LETTER ]

You did an article in the Septmber issue of the Equine Journal on the Colombian Trote y Galope horses. I am one of the Colombian Trote y Galope owners and thought you may like to see one of the babies produced here in the United States this year. She is five months old in this photo and I named her Presencia, which means Presence in English. As you can see, she has lots of that!

-April Hughes, Via Email



IN YOUR WORDS

Beezie Madden.-Caitlin Johnson

Amos the Wonder Horse.-Shelly Mizrahi

My trainer...Coby Nester!-Katie Hayward

My coaches, Andrea Bresee and Stephanie Goldfinch.

-Anne-Marie Gagnon

My children.-Danny Lausberg

My 12-year-old daughter,Rhiannon Cain, who tries harder than most adults to be the best horseman she can be!

-Danielle Cain

George Morris and Denny Emerson.

-Bonnie Ann

Buck Brannaman!-Joe Agee

Mary Walker and her horse, Latte.

-Susan Brittain Thomas

The late Lacey May Jamieson, may she rest in peace.

-Olivia Kaplan

My trainer, Kimberly Cartier Dome. She is one of the strongest women I know.

-Sarah Schmidt-Micola

My daughter, who puts her horses, pupils, and boarders first each day.

-HL OBrien

My horse, Tiny, and my instructor, Holly Whitney.

-Joelle M. Conover

My amazing mom and her amazing horses.

-Rhiannon Cain

My trainer! One in a million, Jackie Milka.

-Gretchen Zwicker

My Arabian, Maraba EL Reymar.

-Lexie Alden- Linebaugh

Lyn Cashman and her beautiful Berry Impressive Quarter Horses.

-Lisa Lynn

All the horses I have ridden over the last number of years.

-Skip Bruber

My trainers, Ruth Harper and Lynette Weldon.

-Hannah Hagen

Tommie Turvey. His equineantics make me smile!

-Amy Smith

I find tons of inspiration when I read the Equine Journal. Thanks!

-Ute Shepherd

Who Whoinspires inspiresyou?you?

For Next Month: What is on your horses holiday wish list? Send your answers to [email protected].

From Our StaffCourtney King-Dye. From her amazing talent to her continued dedication and advocacy for helmets after her accident, she continues to be my inspiration on a daily basis.

-Jennifer Roberts, Social Editor

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bits & piecesPOINTS OF INTERESTPOINTS OF INTEREST p. 23 | NOW YOU KNOWNOW YOU KNOW p. 26 | 10 THINGS10 THINGS p. 28 | PREPURCHASE EXAMPREPURCHASE EXAM p. 30

QUICK TIPSQUICK TIPS p. 32 & 34 | ASK THE VETASK THE VET p. 37

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bits & pieces POINTS OF INTEREST

Headed On Vacation

No50%

Yes, Over a Month34%

Yes, But Justa Week or Two

16%

A tale of intrigue,romance, and high-stakesThoroughbred racing, this thriller takes you on a wild ride behind the scenes of life at the track.From the beginning,you will be sucked in asChristian Roberts says goodbye to his dying father and is thrown into the world of racing. Suspenseful story lineskeep you gallopingthrough the pages, as you learn that Christiansfather was involved inillegal dealings.

It is apparent in reading the book that Klaus has been immersed in the world of horses, writingclearly and fluidly as only a true horsewoman could.

BOTTOM LINE: If youre a racing fan or simply likea great read, this book isthe odds on favorite.

SecretariatSecretariatRebornRebornBY SUSAN KLAUS, 280pages, hardcover, Oceanview Publishing (OceanViewPub.com),2013, $26.95.

[ BOOK ]

Want to be included in our polls? Visit us on Facebook by scanning the QR Code with your smartphone.

MEDIAREVIEW

POLLy g yWe asked: Do you give your horse time off in the winter?

Horses can safely eat many fruits and vegetables, but in the case of some innocent-seeming produce, the ingestion of even a few pieces can cause a serious toxic reaction. One such fruit is the avocado.

Persin, a substance derived from fatty acids contained in avocados, is believed to be the toxin responsible for health problems in horses and other animals that eat the fruit. In horses that ingest avocados, the toxin can cause colic, irregular heartbeat, respiratory distress, neurologic dysfunction, edema, and other signs of illness.

-Kentucky Equine Research

TOXIC TREAT

[ BOB OOK ]



Diamond AAAnnniiversary g q

veterinary practice will celebrate its diamond anniversary when theAmerican Association of Equine Practitioners 60th Annual Convention and Trade Show convenes at the Salt Palace Convention Center in SaltLake City, UT, on December 6-10, 2014.

The five-day event will offer incomparable opportunities for equine veterinarians to grow their knowledge within a variety of learning formats, including in-depth and how-to sessions. The educational program will impart the latest thinking in key areas of medicinesuch as lameness, colic, reproduction, immunology and parasitology, dentistry, imaging, and regenerative medicine.

For more information, visit aaep.org.

SUPPORTING VETERANSSUPPORTING VETERANS PATH International has a long tradition of offering the best in equine-assisted activities and therapies to military personnel and veterans.

For those interested in a gratifying career with daily opportunities to change lives as a therapeutic riding instructor, PATH International introduces the PATH International Equine Services for Heroes Therapeutic Riding Instructor Certification Scholarship for Veterans. This scholarship will reimburse up to $800 for the cost of pursuingPATH International Therapeutic Riding Instructor Certification and will be awarded to veterans with an honorable discharge from U.S. mili-tary service. The deadline for the application is December 31, 2014;the scholarship will be reimbursed to the individual who successfullycompletes a registered instructor onsite workshop and certification between January 1 and December 31, 2015.

bits & pieces POINTS OF INTEREST

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Fun trivia and interesting facts about the Equine Respiratory System

bits & pieces NOW YOU KNOW

500Horses have a uniquepart of the respiratory

system known as the gut-tural pouch, believed to equalize air pressure on

the tympanic membrane.It fills with air when the

horse swallows or exhales,with a capacity of 300

to 500 milliliters.

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10 The average respirationTh g i tirate of the resting horse is10-24 breaths per minute.

40 According to Jon Cheetham, VetMB, PhD, Dipl.ACVS, A horses maximal oxygen uptake at max-imal exertion is approximately 40 times greaterthan their oxygen uptake at rest, far higher than an elite human ath-letes maximal oxygen uptake, which is only about six to eight timeshigher at exercising compared to resting values. 16th

Fully expanded lungsreach the horses 16th vertebrae.

Fun trivia and interesting fa

The trachea measures about75 to 80 centimeters in an adult horse,

carrying air from the oral cavity and into the lungs.


1 The Thoroughbreds ancestry traces back more than300 years to three foundation stallionsthe Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian, and the Byerley Turk.2 Although there are records of horse racing onLong Island as far back as 1665, the introduction of organized Thoroughbred racing to North America istraditionally credited to Governor Samuel Ogle of Maryland, who fi rst staged a Thoroughbred race in the English style at Annapolis in 1745.

3 While all modern Thoroughbreds trace their lineageto at least one of the foundation stallions, it is theDarley Arabians great-great grandson, Eclipse, fromwhich 80% of modern Thoroughbreds descend.

4 Before a Thoroughbred can race, it must have a registered name. Owners submit their name choicesto The Jockey Club, which checks each name for phonetic similarity against more than 430,000 names already in active use and for compliance with the rules that establish the types of names not allowed. Among other things, names cannot exceed 18 characters, have commercial signifi cance, or be suggestive or vulgar.

5 All Thoroughbreds in the Northern Hemispherecelebrate their birthday on January 1.

6 Thoroughbreds compete at the highest levels of international competition in eventing, show jumping,and dressage and also make outstanding hunters,steeplechasers, barrel racers, and polo mounts. They are also used by mounted police patrols and recreational riders who appreciate their intelligence and versatility.

7 The average height of a Thoroughbred is 16.1 hands,while the average weight is 1,000 pounds.

8 In order to race, a Thoroughbred must have a lip tattoo, a unique combination of a letter andnumbers, which is used as a practical method of horse identifi cation.

9 There are nearly 1.3 million Thoroughbreds in theUnited States.

10 The fi rst registered white Thoroughbred wasWhite Beauty, a fi lly foaled in 1963 in Kentucky.28 EQUINE JOURNAL | November 2014

bits & pieces 10 THINGS

10 fun facts about the Thoroughbred

Thankful for ThoroughbredsBY KATHRYN SELINGA

Reference: Information and photo courtesy of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association



bits & pieces PREPURCHASE EXAM

Hunter Bridles

Our testers: This month, our Prepurchase Exam was conducted by::Kelly Ballou, Managing Editor; and Jennifer Roberts,d Social Editor.

This months products for review will be donated to the Medina Creative Therapy Ranch.

Do you have a product to suggest?Contact [email protected] with your ideas.

This month, we

sent our testerson a hunt for the facts on hunter

bridles.

Bobbys Tack Heavy Duty Flat Hunt BridleThis thick, fl at bridle gave our testers horse a vintage look as theyheaded into the ring to start theicourse. Paired with a fl at standinmartingale, the traditional lookwas one of years gone by. High quality leather and buckles gave it an updated appearance whileholding true to tradition. Thethick cavesson was diffi cult totighten originally, but after a fewoilings it was easy to manipulate

Surprisingly, the bridle lookedgood on a variety of horses, froma heavy warmblood head to a highly refi ned Arabian cross.BUY IT: BobbysTack.com, $188.95

PJ Collection Hunter Show Bridle with ReinsSimply stunning, the exquisite detail-ing and amazing leather had our tester excited as soon as she laid eyes on it. Thecutback monocrown styling has the addedbenefi t of three different nosebands that can be easily switched out for convenience and more time in the saddle. Our testerhad the pleasure of trying the cavessonwith the fancy stitched detachable drop;perfect for making a statement in the warm-up and then removing before yourround. The wide noseband accented thewarmblood head perfectly, but it was a bit overpowering on the more refi ned horsesheads. A silver signature PJ tag fi nished outthe look with a classic style.BUY IT: pj-saddles.com, $300.

KL Italia Middleburg Hunter BridleThis bridle looks sharp in the ring, but has the horses utmost comfort in mind, featuring a padded crownpiece and handmade Italian leather. It also has the riders ease in mind, with a mono-crown and roller buckles on the noseband (which our tester foundgreat for her horse, who doesnt like to keep his head still). As if it were needed, the fancy stitching on the brow and noseband, as well as thereins, add an extra touch of class. Theone downside our tester found was that her normal Full size was quite large for her Thoroughbred, and there wasnt suffi cient room to add holes.BUY IT: KLSelect.com, $318.

Stubben 2007 Snaffl e BridleThe cutback padded mono-crownpiece makes this bridle extraspecial and very comfortable for your horses ears. The padded and raised cavesson and crown are accented with contrasting fancy stitching that set off our testers horses head beauti-fully without overpowering it. The completely padded cavesson had thewonderful feature of being paddedunder the buckle, but it took a bit of work to buckle it the fi rst few times. The rounded anthracite buckles gavethe bridle some added fl air. Available in three colors, youll be able to fi nd theperfect one for you and your horse. BUY IT: stubbennorth-america.com, $295.

Perris Professional Fancy Stitched Padded Hunter BridleThis gorgeous bridle offered high end looks at an economical price point. With raised stitched reins and a padded, stitched browband and cavesson, itoffers that fl attering, traditional look. The tooling on the crownpiece added a delicate fl air that our testerloved. The reins are a bit shorter than some of the other bridles that we tested, so if you ride with a longrein you may wish to purchase the longer size. Easy toadjust, the roller buckles helped to get that ideal fi t.

The bridle looked wonderful on horses with deli-cate features as well as horses that are not as refi ned.BUY IT: PerrisLeather.com, $159.95.

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When should I begin schoolingflying changes

with my horse?

Flying changes are a key part of a horses education. Riders may

run into trouble when teaching flying changes to their mounts because their horses canter work is not sufficiently prepared for the introduction of the flying change. Lets look at some key points to consider when introducing flying changes.

I like to think of a flying change as a transition in motion. I think it helps a rider if they really understand and train good quality transitions and keep this in mind when introducing changes. When you train day to day, your focusshould be on the quality of all your tran-sitionswalk/trot/walk, trot/canter/trot, canter/walk/canter as well as transitions within the trot and canter. If you arefocused on keeping your horse through, round, soft, active, straight, and up in the back in all these transitions, then the preparation for the changes should be straightforward. If, however, your horse comes off the aids, against the hand, or isnt quick to the leg in thesetransitions, then its likely this will carry over into the changes. So, number one, work those basic transitions!

When riding changes there are a number of things to keep in mind. First a horse needs to have a good quality canter that is balanced, uphill, straight, and quick to the leg. I like to have goodcanter/walk/canter and counter canter in the horses before I start introducing the changes. I also like to have my horses familiar with shoulder fore and haunches in in the canter. These areall good for strengthening but are also good for making the canter adjustable, which is a big key to making a goodchange. If a rider focuses on these things in everyday schooling, theres a good chance the flying changes wont be an issue.

If you feel like thesetransitions and exer-cises are all solid, thenyou should be preparedto start the changes. If your horse changes infront and not behind,think about what he feelslike in the change. Is hestraight? Is he pushingagainst your leg beforeor during the flyingchange? Is he late to your leg or anticipating andpushing through your hand onto the forehandand changing in frontthen catching up behinda stride later? Is it alwaysthe same change thatslate behind?

Often a horse has onelead thats stronger thanthe other one, and onehind leg thats quicker.They also tend to haveone side they will stiffenagainst and one side thattends to be hollower than the other. Stop andthink about what you arefeeling before and duringthe change and use theexercises above to helpstrength and preparethe canter. If your horsehas a slow or weaker hind leg, try toschool some haunches in and shoulder fore canter exercises that will helpstrengthen that hind leg and make itmore accessible to you in the canter.Also take the time to get the counter canter really strong and balanced,where you can ride forward and backin it and ride through turns without thehorse stiffening against the hand or leg.

To recap, think of your flying changeas a transition in motion. Work to get youand your horses basic transitions really top notch, the canter really tuned up andquick to the leg, and watch your flyingchanges come through. Good luck!

SHARON MCCUSKER is a USEF long-listed FEI Grand Prix rider and trainer with 30 years of experience training and competing, and20 years riding at the FEI level. Sharon has trained many top FEI competition horses andtakes special pride in developing and trainingher own FEI horses. Sharon also has had years of experience carefully selecting top qualitydressage horses in Europe for the U.S. market, as well as taking in quality horses for trainingand resale for private owners. She enjoyscoaching, having trained and developed four top FEI Young Riders and one BrentinaCup Reserve Champion. She has also helped numerous adult amateurs garner bronze,silver, and gold USDF medals.

Dressage PointerseWith Sharon McCusker

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My horse has never worn anovercheck before,

how can I introduce it to him in a non-threateningmanner? What does anovercheck do?

The purpose of the overcheck is to hold a harness horses head

high and in the proper position when hes driving.

When I start my horses in an overcheck for the first time, I use a broken snaffle for a check bit. This bit is the same kind of bit that is used as a bridoon in a full bridle. I find that it folds well along the roof of the mouth. Before I put the bits into the horses mouth, I tie them together using two short pieces of shoe string. This allows the action of the check bit to be directly connected to the driving or steering bit.

An alternative to using a check bitis to use a piece of string or rope. Thisrope is tied to the checkrein, and whenit is in the horses mouth, it folds neatly along the roof of the horses mouth.When I use this technique, I dont tie thedriving bit to the overcheck rope.

I always long line my horses in anovercheck bridle a number of timesbefore I attempt to drive them in it. Thefirst few times I may not even connect thecheck rein to the back pad so the horsecan get used to the idea of having two bitsin his mouth. Gradually, I will attach thecheck rein to the back pad and begin toshorten the check rein until the horse canfeel the pressure of the overcheck bit.

After the horse gets used to the idea of having two bits in his mouth andhaving the regimentation of having tokeep his head up, I will untie the checkbit from the driving bit. At this pointthe check bit will be doing the actionit was intended to do. That is to holdthe horses head in the proper place.

As the horse becomes more comfort-able with his new bitting arrangement,I may introduce a straight overcheckbit. This is the ultimate overcheck bit. Itwill hold the horses head in the proper place without exception.

If at any point the horse objectsto the overcheck bit, or his stage of training, I will back up a little and goback to where he was comfortable.

Remember, training is educated trialand error and there are no absoluteswhen dealing with horses.

HARRY SEBRING, owner and trainer of Sebring Stables in Richmond, MA, has beena professional horse trainer for more than 25 years and a licensed American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) judge for 20 years.He is also the current president of AMHA.Harrys professional recognitions include being named the 2008 UPHA Chapter 14 Manof the Year, winning the 2008 USEF WilliamRobinson Pegasus Award, and being chosenthe 2008 AMHA Man of the Year.

Driving PointersgWith Harry Sebring

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What is stemcell therapy?How is it useful

in aiding the healing of tendon injuries?

The world of biologics and regenerative therapy has been

rapidly expanding, particularly in equine veterinary medicine. Stem cell therapy was one of the first biologic therapeu-tics that became commonly used in veterinary medicine, and initially its clinical use far surpassed the research on the topic. The research is finally beginning to catch up, and new papers are continuously being published to further characterize all the effects that stem cells have on healing tissue.

A stem cell is just a cell that has the ability to mature into more than one type of cell. However, this does not mean that all stem cells are created equal. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are the cells that make up an embryo and have the ability to mature into any tissue type (termed pluripotent). However, this requires the acquisition of equine embryos and they are not used clinically at this point due to ethical and practical concerns. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are found in certain tissues of the adult horse. Most often we obtain these cells from adipose (fat) or bone marrow, but they are also found in umbilical cord blood and peripheral blood. These stem cells have the ability to transform into a variety of tissue types, but its a more limited range of tissue types (termed multipotent). MSCs are the main type of stem cell that are used clinically, and there are a variety of processing and culturing methods to isolate and expand these cells. Since MSCs are the type of stem cell that are available for clinical use, the remainder of this discussion will focus on them.

Clinicians tend to have their personal favorite when treating a horse with stem cell therapy, but a variety of processing

methods are available. Bonemarrow can be taken froma horses sternum (breast-bone) or ileum (part of their pelvis). Stem cells canthen be isolated for injec-tion or the stem cells canbe cultured and propagatedto expand their numbers.Adipose (fat) tissue isgenerally taken from thehindquarters either surgi-cally or using a methodsimilar to liposuction. Atthis point, stem cell therapy is most commonly used intendon injuries, but may also be used with ligamentinjury, osteoarthritis, or as a regional limb perfusion.

Stem cell therapy assistsin tendon injury healingby a variety of methods.One of the most welldefined activities of stemcells is regulation of thelocal immune response.Stem cells exhibit anti-inflammatory properties inthe local area of injectionin addition to providingnecessary substances for tendon healing. Researchcomparing tendon injuries treated withtraditional therapies alone (stall rest andanti-inflammatory medications) to those treated with MSC injection have shownsignificantly improved results whenMSCs are incorporated into a treatmentplan. Typically the injuries treated withMSCs show better tendon architectureand fiber alignment at a given healingpoint compared to those with traditionaltreatment. The healed tendons have beenshown to be much stronger and moreresistant to re-injury as well.

The logical goal of using stem cells for injuries is that the cells will mature intothe cell type of the injured structure (soin this case, tendon cells) and will help filland heal the injured area. While this hasbeen proven in some tissue types, it has not

been fully characterized in equine tendons.However, research has shown that theinjected stem cells stay in the area for atleast a few months after injection. It is likely that many of the stem cells are convertedinto tendon cells that help to fill the injuredarea, in addition to recruiting additionalhealing cells to the area. The overall resultis a tendon that heals more quickly andproduces more normal tissue than onetreated by traditional methods alone.

Not all tendon injuries lend themselvesto stem cell therapy, so its use should bediscussed with your veterinarian on a case-by-case basis. In addition, it is likely thatclinicians will begin using MSC therapy ina wider range of injuries and conditions,particularly as research and understandingof stem cells expands.

Divide and ConquerDivide and ConquerThe Advantages of Stem CellsBY DR. ERICA SECOR AND DR. A. RACHEL ROEMER OF NEW ENGLAND EQUINE MEDICAL & SURGICAL CENTER

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Once stem cells are harvested, they can be isolated for in-jection for the treatment of tendon and ligament injuriesand osteoarthritis.


EQJMG_141100_038_Spread.indd 38EQJMG_141100_038_Spread.indd 38 10/13/14 12:29:05 PM10/13/14 12:29:05 PM

EQJMG_141100_038_Spread.indd 39EQJMG_141100_038_Spread.indd 39 10/13/14 12:29:43 PM10/13/14 12:29:43 PM

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1/ Space-SavingJump InventoryWhether you already own or haveaccess to jumps, consider someoptions to get the most out of theinventory. Or consider purchasingnew or building your own with mate-rials from the hardware store. Use shorter poles - go to 8'

instead of 10' or 12'. My trainer only uses 8 in her arena. Youre going topick up 2' to 4' of space and have a lotmore room to move around, Susanexplains, adding that the shorter widthwill require better steering, a goodexercise in itself. She advises paintingthe centerline on the pole to better aim for the center. Having schooledover narrower jumps makes it mucheasier when youre jumping standardwidths at a show. Use schooling standards instead

of wing standards. They save preciousspace since they are 12" wide versus 3'wide, and are easier to move becausethey are not nearly as heavy. Optimize space and inventory by

using multi-directional standards withround holes all the way around them.This allows you to use one schoolingstandard in the center and actually create three jumps around it. Thatsjust four standards to make threejumps in a pinwheel configuration.

2/ Increase theJumping Effort Focus on just two or three skills

in a session. Keep repetition to a minimum with a course design thatincorporates bending lines, straightlines, and varying stride length. Use verticals instead of cross-

rails and set up jumps that will allowyou to ride to the fence in both direc-tions. This saves inventory and setuptime as well as space. Use ground poles to add depth

perception to help the horse seeheights and distances.

3/Maximize Space withProven Configurations Clever short course designs can

allow you to practice different effortswhile jumping over the same fencefrom either direction, giving youseveral different fences when youveonly set up two or three. Make sure there is a safe

approach to each fence and a safelanding, as well as enough space for

There are ways to set up jumps for a series of different approaches and to make standards and poles do double duty. An added bonus is, with an efficient design, there is less lugging around of heavy pieces, and you can save a lot of time that is better put to use actually riding.

Like most things worth doing, its all in the preparation, and dependingon how you set a track and utilize the jumps, a very useful practice can behad even in a smaller space and with just a few jump elements.

Decide what you want to practice that day. You dont need a lotof jumps, advises hunter/jumper rider Susan Tinder of Tolland FallsEquestrian Center in Colorado. After years of lessons and competing,she has amassed a library of practice course designs for optimizing timeand space and getting the most out of her lessons. She decided to put allof her tried and true designs together in a book, Jump Course DesignManual, which was published by Trafalgar Square Books in 2012. Shededicates an entire chapter on space-saving configurations.

Susan illustrates how hunter, jumper, and equitation exercises can be constructed to focus on one or two goals in a small space, but also in such a way as to create interest for the horse. So much thought goes into riding over different types of jumps, but its actually riding on the flat, the part between the fences, where most of the time and effort is spent.

Maintaining the pace is very important in creating a balanced canter. You need to be able to steer, create impulsion, and lengthen and shorten strides before you try to ride an entire course. Then you put it all together, kind of like a dancer who practices all the various steps at the balance barre to get all the individual steps down before putting the whole recitalnumber together, says Susan.

Optimize space and inventory by using multi-directional

standards with round holes all the way around them. This allows you to use one school-

ing standard in the center and actually create three jumps

around it. Thats just four stan-dards to make three jumps in a

pinwheel confi guration.

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turns between obstacles and the fence line or wall, Susan says. She suggests a series of space-saving configurations including one that allows you to incorporate the centerline with an approach from the short end of the small arena. With a wider arena,the approach could be from the long side. When the ring is too narrow to accommodate a center-line jump, there are many options to create an inter-esting pattern. U, V, W, Y-shaped, dog

leg, and pinwheel configu-rations can allow flexibility and maximize the space. Three or four obstacles canbe set up in a U configu-ration and allow for as many as eight jumping approaches. A V-shapedconfiguration gives options for changing the diagonal. You can build a line off of some of the elements in a W-shaped configu-ration that is set horizontally across the arena. A Y shape gives you two single fences, one off either lead so you can practice changing to/from both directions. And of course the dog leg takes advantage of a jump space by setting two jumps next to one another at angles to minimize dead space. The pinwheel is by far the most

clever and simple configuration that maximizes one central jump area, setting the jumps in an X configura-tion. Some of the turns are reverse or rollbacks for more advanced horses and riders. The closer they are set together, the tighter the turns.

4/ Set and Walk the Course After you determine the track or

tracks that will allow you to practice the skills you want to work on, set the outside lines first on the perimeter of the arena so that you can easily move them inward, if necessary. Put the poles in place, bringing

out only those you intend to use. Set up standards then place the top pole in place at the height you are planning. A smaller arena can naturally

cause a horse to shorten their stride

as jumps and walls come up pretty fast in a confining space. Make sure you have the optimum count for strides between fences. Distances are very important in a small space and you have less time on the long sides or diagonal to get your horse straight to the jumps. Fences and lines set on the diagonal will most likely have

sharper angles to them, says Susan.Courses placed in a small space oftenneed to be set on a 10' to 11' averagestride length rather than the standard12' foot stride to ride comfortably. Mini courses for small arenas are

more like gymnastic exercises thananything else. But you can also addfill to jumps to make them seem more

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The pinwheel is by far the most clever and simple confi guration that maximizes one central jump area, setting the jumps in an X confi guration. Some of the turns are reverse or rollbacks for more advanced horses and riders. The closer they are set together, the tighter the turns.together, the tighter the turns.

When the ring is too narrow to accom-modate a centerline jump, there are many options for creating an interestingpattern.

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like those you will see at a show. Keep in mind that 8' wide jumps may be easy to construct with just poles, but any fill such as gates, flower boxes, or hurdles you purchase will generally be 10' to 12' and will not fit under 8' poles. If you plan to add filler to your 8' wide jumps, you will probably have to build them to size yourself.

5/ Break the Courseinto SegmentsWhen you have a full course you want to practice, and dont have thespace, you can still set up segments for working on specific skills. When you go out to school on the flat or over jumps you ought to have a plan. So lets say you lose impulsion in the warm-up and you want to work on that. I would do a lot of circle work and make sure youre on the outside rein and have impulsion from the back. Set up maybe three jumps and work on coming out of a corner,Susan suggests. Or you may want to construct a jump course that will allow you to practice a bending line. Say the course diagram has eight jumps on it but youve only got room

for three or four. Set up an exercise with the equipment you have (and space you have) and practice the bending line with two jumps offset. Move on the next day to the next part of the course.

Utilize the poles more. You dont need to just jump around a course.

You can pretty much practice every skill you need with poles on theground. The majority of people areprobably not going to jump over 3 and the skills that are more important arethe ones between jumpsmanagingthe pace, being able to steer, pickinga focal point to ride toyou donthave to have jumps for that. If youhave eight short poles you can lay them down in the arena, and if youcan canter a course of poles, youllbe surprised at how much easier it iswhen youre actually jumping!

6/ Take Care of Inventory and FootingWith a shorter course design in a small space, youll be riding over the same ground multiple times.It doesnt take very long beforethere are ruts in the footing or itgets packed down in front of thejumps, Susan says, so plan to movethe jumps around after a couple of rides. Also, do not leave poles on theground; bank them against the wallsof the indoor arena or anywhere they can be off the ground when not inuse, and out of the way.

/ SAY THE COURSE DIAGRAM HAS EIGHT JJUMPS ON IT BUT YOUVE ONLY GOT ROOM FORTHREE OR FOUR. SET UP AAN EXERCISE WITH THE EEQUIPMENT YOU HAVE(AND SPACE YOU HAVE) AAND PRACTICE THEBBENDING LINE WITH TWO JUMPS OFFSET. MMOVE ON THE NEXT DAY TO THE NEXT PART OF THE COURSE.

SUSAN TINDER/


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In spite of the fact that many changes to the cross-country phase have already been implemented with the intention of increasing horse and rider safety, accidents involving serious injury and death still occur at the upper levels with all too common frequency. Emerson feels that one change that has been overlooked is the option to reduce required speeds on cross-country by 20 meters per minute at each levelreducing them to 500 meters per minute at preliminary, 530 at intermediate, and 550 for advanced.

It seems logical that slowing down would decrease rotational falls, says Emerson. Courses are not the same, so why should the speeds be?

NOW AND THEN: A MODERN PERSPECTIVEA decade ago, the sport of eventing changed radically when the long format event became obsolete. The removal of roads and tracks and steeplechase from the endurance day meant that course designers were tasked with creating tracks that could still challenge competitors but did not require the land space necessary for long format. As a result, course design became more tricky, says Emerson. They added more narrows, combinations, and extremely angled fences. Courses became harder to make time on. Riders theoretically could go slow, but you couldnt goslow and win.

Emerson contends that the culture of the sport of eventing was completely changed with the shift from long format to short format to the point that they require completely different sets of skills. In long format,

there was nearly one hour and 20minutes of riding [on endurance day],says Emerson. Now, it is 13 minutesof activity. Eventing is no longer anendurance sport, it is a technicalsport. Some say that the sport hasevolved, but I would say that they have changed one sport for another. Itis the same as the difference betweena marathon and a five-mile run.

Doug Payne is a current FEIeventing competitor who also holdsUSEF r eventing and technical dele-gate licenses. Payne feels that currentrequired speeds are much quicker than the original founders intendedand cause riders to take excessiverisks. These speeds were establishedin a time where the jumping effortswere generally more spread out withfar less technical combinations, saysPayne. These combinations forceriders to slow down for significantlengths of time, creating a need tojump the let up fences at a faster speed than would have been requiredin the past.

Emerson says that when riders mustgo too fast at fences to make up for losttime, a certain percentage are going tomiss, hit the fence, and rotate. Peopleare going to risk going fast in order towin, says Emerson.

Not everyone feels that currentspeeds are unreasonable, givenproper experience. FEI eventer andcurrent USEA Top Five Leaderboardrider Michael Pollard feels that therequired speeds are appropriate,but that riders must use discretionin how they ride their courses. Iwill go as fast as I can go and stillbe safe; that may change given thehorse, says Pollard. [Going fast] is

NEED FOR INCREASEDEQUINE HEALTHRESEARCH PROMPTS USEATO HELP FUNDRAISEAT THE 2013 U.S. EVENTING ASSOCIATION(USEA) Annual Meeting, it was announcedthat the starter fee would increase by $1 per entry in 2014, with the fundscollected being allocated for equinehealth research. According to a December 2013 USEA press release, The eventingcommunity has recognized that there isa significant lack of funding for equine medical research and has taken a major step forward to change this dynamic.

The USEA has partnered with theMorris Animal Foundation (MAF), which is one of the largest organizations respon-sible for funding companion animal andequine health research initiatives in the United States, to administer this program.

Katherine Cooper, an eventer, USEF tech-nical delegate, and USEA Board of Governorsmember, became involved with the partner-ship early in the process, and in fact, was one of a group of donors who helped provide just over $11,000 in seed money for the initiative. In addition, over $10,000 was donated from the Amy Tryon Memorial Fund, in recognition of the Olympians dedication to the health and well-being of her animals.

Cooper reports that the program has been well received.

These funds will be available to support projects like the ongoing USEA Cardiopulmonary Research Study.

Former USEA President Kevin Baumgardner was also instrumental in bringing the initial funding proposal to the leadership of the USEA. In an article published in the Horse Journal, Baumgardner says,There is a shocking gap in basic equine medical research, and this would not onlybe a great way to help close it, but it would also be a way to further inoculate our sportagainst attack from well-meaning but unin-formed people and organizations who do notunderstand our deep concern for our horses welfare, particularly at times when accidents happen and we get bad press.

In addition, the USEA has challengedother equestrian organizations to follow suit. If the major discipline organizationsunder the USEF all made a similar motion,nearly $800,000 additional researchdollars could be raised annually for equine health related studies.

It is estimated that in 2014, more than$40,000 will be raised by the USEA for equinemedical research as a result of this initiative.

But some eventing experts are questioning whether the required speeds are still appropriate given the increasingly technical demands of modern courses. U.S. Eventing Association (USEA) Hall of Fameinductee Denny Emerson, who began his eventingcareer in 1961, is amongst the most outspoken onthis subject. Courses back then were nothing likethey are now, says Emerson. The courses were straightforward, and horses could read the questions being asked from a long way away. These speeds were designed for courses where horses got into a gallop mode and stayed there.



a matter of judgment and the skill of the horse and rider in question. Higher-level horses should be able to adjust. Riders must balance their ability to go fast with being able to see a distance and balance their horse appropriately.

In fact, Pollard feels that lowering the required speeds on cross-country may just make the problem worse. I think sometimes people go fast because they are scared, says Pollard. Lowering the speeds is not going to reduce their fear.

UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED?One of the complexities involved in competing at the upper levels of eventing is that going fast is part of the equation, and so riders must learn how to safely and appropriately handle their horses while traveling quickly and negotiating obstacles. As this is a learned skill, there clearly will be times when novice riders make mistakes.

Everyone has been marginally qualified at some point in their life, says Payne. Its a fact. Experienced as well as inexperienced riders alike are tempted to take chances to make up for lost time, leading to accidents.

Pollard also points out that some fences are designed to be jumped from a faster speed, and coming to them too slowly actually poses an increased risk. The worst falls I have seen have been rotational falls at a slow speed, because the rider does not get thrown clear, says Pollard. I believe that it is the quality of the

riding that is at issue, not the speed.Riders who are deemed to be

riding dangerously or in a reckless manner may be reprimanded by the ground jury and even be issued yellow cards, which serve as warn-ings. However, riders who are riding dangerously due to lack of experience or preparation might be better served with an educational intervention.

I dont think the yellow card/Dangerous Riding system is effec-tive, says Payne. I think both are seen as punitive measures exacted by officials in the ivory tower. People want to win, and in order to do so you have to take chances, especially with the current conditions.

There is lots of scary riding, says Pollard. This is not a new problem. Officials have enough to do with inspecting courses and ensuring safety in that regard, so I am not sure they are the right personnel to set riders down. It can be hard as a competitor, because you cannot always watch other riders. But more must be doneif we see people riding outside of their comfort zone, we need to help.

Pollard feels that it is primarily the role of riders coaches to educate their riders, but it is also a responsibility of those who are leaders in the sport. We have lots of institutional knowledge, says Pollard. For example, the Young Rider coach in each area is a good resource. We also have a Developing Rider coach, David [OConnor, U.S. Eventing Team Coach], and others who are involved with High Performance.

These are the people whounderstand the nuancesinvolved at this level.

Pollard says that even a coach-to-coach conversationcould be helpful. This is a tightcommunity, says Pollard. If someone saw one of my ridersriding inappropriately, I wouldwant to know about it. Honestly,we just dont do that sort of thing enough.

CHANGE: OR ELSE?Much has been said on the topic of increasing the safety of horses andriders competing in the sport of eventing, particularly at the upper levels. But in spite of many changes,falls incurring serious injury or deathto horse and rider still occur. Andwith every fall being highly publicizedvia the Internet, concern regardingthe longevity of the sport of eventingcontinues to rise.

Upper-level eventing has becomeone of the most dangerous sports inthe world, says Emerson. If you hadas many deaths in football or baseballper capita, they would shut themdown until the leadership had figuredout a way to stop it. No one comeshome from a dressage show and says,it was a good day, no one died. Yetwhen you go into the starting gate atthese big events, there is a realisticchance of death. We need to keeptrying to figure out solutions.

Every six to eight years it seemslike there is a bout of bad luck wherewe see more horses and riders hurt,says Pollard. It is bad for the sport.I really dont want to see the sportchange; I like it how it is. But if wedont come up with a solution wherewe can see more safe trips, we willsee more dramatic change.

Pollard predicts that eventing willturn toward an increasing use of fran-gible/deformable technology in theconstruction of cross-country fences.He says that if a rider knocks a fencedown or apart, time will be addedto their total. You would think that

With the addition of more dif-fi cult fences, such as this narrowwith no groundline, courses have become more technically advanced while still forcing the riders to maintain a high-speed gallop.



riding against the clock would encourage increased speed, but if riders were heavily penalized for knock downs, the faults could add up rather quickly, says Pollard.

As a community, eventers have faced a great deal of change in their sport in the past 10 years and many are resistant to further modifi-cations. However, when itcomes to slowing speeds, Payne feels that a trial period would be worth considering, even if it affects how much weight is assigned to the cross-country phase. [Withslower speeds], the cross-country phase would have a lesser influence over the final placings, especially in ideal weather and footing condi-tions, says Payne. While few like change, I dont thinkits such a bad thing if it has the potential to reduce the temptation for riders to take on undue risk.

Emerson admits that he

doesnt know if loweringspeeds will help to reducehorse and rider falls.However, he points out thateventing leaders have trieda lot of other solutions thatdont seem to be working.We have already madethe substantial change toeventing [by changing toshort format], and now whatwe are doing is tinkering withthe new sport to figure outhow we can make it safer,says Emerson. Eventing nowrequires a different kind of horse and a different kind of mental and physical prepara-tion. We cant not change thesport and expect for things tochange in terms of safety. Weneed to keep trying to figureout solutions.

With every fall being highly publicized via the Internet, concern regarding the lon-

gevity of the sport of event-ing continues to rise.


606 EQUINEE JOJ URNR ALA || NoNovememvemberberberer 20 20 20 2014141414

BY KANDACE YORK

HEADING OFF TO COLLEGE? YYoouuvvee pprroobbaabbllyyalreadyy hheeardd about the notorious freshman

1155, referring to the number of pounds thatssome students gain during their first year

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the freshman 15some experts say its only a few pounds, others say it may be 20 pounds or morebut one thing is clear. College is a time of big changes, and youre going to be in charge of things that you may have never thought about before. Your fitness is one of them.

WHY IT MATTERSHigher academic standards, heavier assignment loads, and shorter time-frames than high school are just the start of changes youll notice in college. Theres also the pressure of settling into your dorm or apartment, getting along with your roommates, budgeting your living expenses, and getting to class on timewithout mom there giving you a dire minute-by-minute countdown.

College is a really big transition, Lindsay Wetzel Polin says. Students are balancing both academic and social activities in their daily lives.

Wetzel Polin is the physical activity and nutrition health educator at the University of California (UC), Davis, campus, where she works at the universitys Student Health and Counseling Services.

Taking care of yourself has imme-diate advantages, she says. By staying healthy, youll have more energy. Youll be in a better mood and youll sleep better, too, so youll be able to cope more easily with the stress of academics.

Decades of research back up her comments. Study after study has indicated that the human brain works better and faster, with lower levels of stress, when its in a fit body.

Scientists think this is because the same pipelines that feed your body also feed your mind, and exer-cise triggers your brains release of neurotransmitters that regulate a slew of functions. These affect everything from your mood and energy levels to how rationally you solve problems (think college-level algebra).


YoYoYourururr fi fi fifi t tttnenenen sssss lleve el hass a a didididirererer ctctct eeffffect t onn y youour r hohorsrsees s pepep rformamancnce,e, B Briridgdgetet Bradadenen, , ofof B BioioRiRideder r FiFitntness,sasaysys. . WWhehen n a a rir deder is fi t anand d babalalancncede , communicca-titionon wwith the horse becocomemessa liittle bit easieer,r a andnd t thehe horse can doo i itsts w worork k wewelll .



In other words, youre likely to have an easier time with your studies, and feel like you have more timeand more funwhen you stay fit and healthy.

FIND SOMETHING YOU LIKE

As a horseperson, you may not have thought much about fitness because it just happened with those long hours of stall-cleaning, trail riding, or competing in the show ring.

In college, though, these activities might be farther away, and even if you are an equine major, you may have dramatically less time than in the past. Wetzel Polin has a simple solution: find something else you like that bridges that gap.

It doesnt have to mean an hour in the gym, she says. Go on a walk, or walk or bike to class instead of driving. If you do drive to class, park farther away from the building. Its the same principle you use when cross-training your horse, only now youre doing it for yourself.

Both the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Heart Association (AHA) recommend that adultsthats you nowparticipate in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity at least five days per week.

Good non-equine choices include brisk walking, water aerobics, and bicycling (slower than 10 miles per

hour). Mix in some more vigorousactivities a couple times a week,like swimming laps, hiking uphill, or jumping rope, and youll have a goodfitness regimen.

Wetzel Polin has high praise for UC Davis when it comes to studentfitness. The culture here is thatmany students ride bikes. We haverecreation centers and pools for thestudents. We have physical activity maps that direct students to localparks and trails. We try to make iteasy for them.

WORK IT IN,WORK IT OUT

UC Davis takes a 10-10-10 approachto fitness, Wetzel Polin says: three,10-minute sessions of exerciseevery day. Theres some really goodresearch behind these 10-minutechunks of exercise, three times a day.We call it work it in, work it out.

When one session focuses onstrength, one on aerobics and one onflexibility, your day will include thethree components of basic fitness.Even if youre not able to include allthree types of exercise, though, some-thing is better than nothing. Simplechoices, like taking the stairs insteadof the elevator or using class breaksfor walks instead of Snapchattingyour friends the whole time, will helpyou stay alert and focused.

About 500 miles south of UC Davis,Bridget Braden suggests a similar

TIPS FROM THE PROSSeek out the health and fitnessresources at your school, Lindsay Wetzel Polin of UC Davis suggests.You might be surprised by theresources your school offers; UC Davis, for example, offers an on-campusfarmers market and an on-staff dieti-tian who offers cooking classes, online recipes, and grocery-shopping tips. And remember, everything in moder-ation. We try not to lecture students about what not to do, but instead we help them make healthier choices.

Dont stress about being away fromyour horse for a semester or worryabout whether youll be able to catch up on all your missed riding time; itwill be OK. Bridget Braden says thatadult riders often have an easier timereturning to riding after an absence than young riders would. Younger kids dont have mature muscles, sothey dont have the same musclememory as someone whos beenriding for a long time.

COLLEGIATE EQUESTRIAN ACTIVITIESGoing to college doesnt need to mean leaving your horse behind. Dr.Betsy Greene, of the University of Vermont, has dual experience as aformer collegiate riderabout a hundred years ago, she laughsand as the universitys current equestrian drill team coach.

As a college student, I never lookedat it as trying to fit something extra into my life, she says. I would say I wasrunning to the barn, both for the mentalstress release and the physical activity, even when arena schedules meant that riding lessons were at 6:00 a.m.

Today, she sees college students enjoying the same benefits of contact with horses, and the University of Vermont offers some interestingopportunities. In addition to our dressage team, our equestrian teamand our drill team, we have the Horse Barn Co-op, where students bringtheir horses to school with them andearn college credit for professionally managing a horse barn.

Exercise is just one half of being fi t and healthy, nutrition is the other half, and its anarea where college students can often stumble.

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approach: 20 minutes of exercise in the morning and another 20 minutes at night. She owns BioRider Fitness in Escondido, CA, offering fitness programs customized for riders. You love to ride, she says, and youll stay fit to do something you love.

Most colleges have student recre-ation centers at little or no extra cost, and she recommends that you use them. Forty-five minutes in a pool once a week will do wonders, Braden says, especially if you have joint issues. Mix in an occasional 15 minutes on a bike, elliptical or rowing machine; or even jump rope or do some jumping jacks (remember those?).

NUTRITIONMATTERS, TOO

Both Braden and Wetzel Polin emphasize that exercise is just one half of fitness; nutrition is the other half, and its an area where collegelife often stumbles.

Pizza. Beer. Vending machines.Macaroni and cheese. Ramen noodles. These m

equine journal (november 2014)

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